Who
We Are
Oxfam is a global movement for creating change by strengthening rights and opportunities of individuals, supporting participation for benefit of poor and oppressed groups to address economic inequality and poverty.
It is a confederation of 20 organizations networking with partners and local communities in over 90 countries that work at local, national, regional and international levels and engage with multiple actors including grassroots initiatives, communities, civil society organizations, and government.
“We aim to facilitate processes whereby people can improve their lives and have a say in the decisions that affect them. We are part of a global movement for change, one that empowers people to create a future that is safe, just, and free from poverty.”
Oxfam has been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region since the 1950s and is currently present in 11 countries through a variety of programs and initiatives. An Oxfam International Regional Platform was established in the MENA region in early 2017 to provide strategic leadership and deliver regional impact.
Our regional strategy for MENA focuses on five inter-connected key levers for change.
1 - REDISTRIBUTING THE WEALTH
“We envision a region where vulnerable and poor people have universal, free and equitable access to quality basic services and decent work through fair and accountable socio-economic policies that contribute to reducing inequalities.”
2 - TRANSFORMING HUMANITARIAN WORK IN THE MENA REGION
“We envision a resilient MENA that is crisis-prepared and able to pursue locally-led humanitarian responses that model global standards, address root causes of fragility and conflict across the region and mobilise international support to respond to the humanitarian imperative of saving lives now and in the future.”
3 - MOVING FROM THREAT TO OPPORTUNITY
“We envision a Middle East and North Africa where people from different origins move from, through or to the region freely and are treated with justice and dignity.”
4 - WOMEN’S RIGHTS AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO
“We envision MENA as a region where women and girls, men and boys, in all their diversity, make their own life choices in all spheres and enjoy their rights freely and without fear, in peaceful, inclusive and equal societies.”
THE O4MY PLATFORM
Oxfam Italy and Oxfam IBIS (Denmark) are implementing 2 multi country programmes in the MENA region and the Southern Mediterranean. The two programmes “MedUp! Promoting social entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region” and “YPE – Youth Participation and Employment” work on similar topic related to youth, entrepreneurship and employment.
During these years working in the MENA region our specialists have achieved a considerable know-how operating at different levels in the area.
We focus on increasing young men and women’s life and technical skills for them to get access to economic opportunities and actively engage in society; supporting the development of social enterprises via enhanced policy frameworks, better quality support services and tailored financial and technical support; enhancing the organisational capacity of and commitment in institutions, the private sector, entrepreneurs and communities to supporting youth employment; and advocacy and dialogue between youth, public and private institutions and businesses.
The platform O4MY – Opportunities for MENA Youth was born as a knowledge portal to disseminate and share relevant knowledge materials produced by the two programmes.
This portal aims at providing useful tools to all those believing, like us, in fight inequality and poverty, in societies where all people have equal rights, access to opportunities, resources and quality education.
